The Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM) has refuted claims that it has doled out GHC2 million to any individual to undertake the bank’s “Made-in-Ghana 4P” campaign.
A statement from the bank said: “We wish to state categorically that no amounts of such magnitude have been paid to any ambassador or influencer.
“The bank has not doled out GHC2 million to Shatta Wale or any brand ambassador. This allegation is factually incorrect and misleading.”
According to the bank, it was invited by Parliament’s public accounts committee to appear before members on Wednesday (9 September) to answer questions pertaining to operations of the bank between 2015 and 2017.
The issues, raised by the Auditor General’s report covering the stated period, did not feature any items in the bank’s intended campaign to promote Made-In-Ghana products.
Proud to be made in Ghana
“We would like to state that part of GEXIM’s mandate is to assist in the promotion of locally produced goods and services to enhance export revenue generation, help reduce imports, add value to raw materials for export, and create employment in the country.
“In view of this national call, the bank, on Sunday 30 August 2020, launched a campaign dubbed: Made-in-Ghana 4P. The 4P stands for encouraging Ghanaians to produce, promote and purchase Made-in-Ghana products and services so we can prosper as a people and nation,” the statement said.
GEXIM Bank said it contracted prominent Ghanaian artistes to serve as brand ambassadors and influencers to “give this campaign a higher scale, and in consonance with promoting Made-In-Ghana products and services”.
The bank added that it had followed “the requisite laid-down procurement procedures”.
Role of ambassadors
The bank said Kofi Adu (Agya Koo) and Nii Armah Mensah (Shatta Wale) are known for their exemplary, award-winning exploits in the local creative arts industry and have earned international acclaim for their craft.
“Their role, simply put, is to give support, credibility and belief in the Made-in-Ghana agenda, which is a personal passion point for them individually as well.”
The statement from GEXIM also said: “These renowned brand ambassadors will be using their scale, brand equity, leverage and the pool of their fan bases to garner the needed acceptance, adoption and participation by Ghanaians in the Made-in-Ghana 4P campaign so that the products of the entities that we are lending sums of money … can be patronised for them to pay back and also energise the whole culture of buying and using made-in-Ghana products in the country.”
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